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D-backs to Host Native American Recognition Day this Saturday

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Press Release |

PHOENIX - The Arizona Diamondbacks will host Native American Recognition Day, presented by Gila River Casinos, this Saturday at 7:10 p.m. at Chase Field. The D-backs will give away 20,000 duffle bags, courtesy of Gila River Casinos, as fans enter the stadium.

Currently, the D-backs are hosting their 16th annual Inter-Tribal Youth Baseball & Softball Tournament (June 18-21) with games played throughout the Salt River Reservation and Tempe. The D-backs are the only MLB club to host an inter-tribal tournament and this year's tournament features more than 900 participants that hail from four states and represent 26 tribes. For a full tournament schedule, visit www.dbacks.com/intertribal.

Native American Recognition Day festivities will begin at 5:00PM and include Native American drum groups, dancers, vocalists, royalty and more. All 61 teams from the inter-tribal baseball and softball tournament will be recognized during a pregame parade at Chase Field as part of Native American Recognition Day, presented by Gila River Casinos. Gabriel Ayala, a classically trained guitarist from the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in Tucson, will play the national anthem and former Gila River Indian Community Governor Thomas White will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Radio voices Dan Arnold and George LaFrance (KTNN AM 660 from Window Rock, Ariz.), who called the first-ever MLB game in native Navajo at last year's Native American Recognition Day at Chase Field, return for this year's game broadcast on June 21st.

The D-backs will donate $2 from each ticket sold online at www.dbacks.com/nard to the Phoenix Indian Center and the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona.